Frontier Army Scout. Baptiste Garnier, known on the frontier as “Little Bat” to distinguish him from another frontier character, Baptiste “Big Bat” Pourier, was Chief of Scouts for the Army at Fort Robinson, Nebraska during the Plains Indian Wars and was one of the most well-known and respected men on the western frontier. Garnier was born in the area around Fort Laramie to a French-Canadian father and a Lakota Sioux mother. In March 1876 he was a scout with General George Crook’s Black Hills expedition against the Sioux and was in several fights with Indians. In May 1876 he joined the command of Col. Merritt as a scout for the 5th U.S. Cavalry. He continued to serve as a scout intermittently into the 1890s and was present at Wounded Knee in 1890, narrowly escaping the massacre while attempting to mediate between the Sioux and the Army. He was murdered in Crawford, Nebraska by a bartender following a dispute over his liquor bill. A Nebraska State Historical Society marker in Crawford memorializes his death with the text: “The Chief of Fort Robinson Scouts, Baptiste “Little Bat” Garnier, was shot by James Haguewood, bartender, in this building known as Dietrich’s Saloon, December 16, 1900. “Little Bat” died near the center of the street intersection about 3 a.m. and was buried at the Fort Robinson cemetery. The record of death and interment states: “Deceased was brutally shot while wholly unarmed and without cause or justification.” On a plea of “self-defense,” Haguewood was acquitted. Garnier served his country well in bringing peace to the frontier.”
Frontier Army Scout. Baptiste Garnier, known on the frontier as “Little Bat” to distinguish him from another frontier character, Baptiste “Big Bat” Pourier, was Chief of Scouts for the Army at Fort Robinson, Nebraska during the Plains Indian Wars and was one of the most well-known and respected men on the western frontier. Garnier was born in the area around Fort Laramie to a French-Canadian father and a Lakota Sioux mother. In March 1876 he was a scout with General George Crook’s Black Hills expedition against the Sioux and was in several fights with Indians. In May 1876 he joined the command of Col. Merritt as a scout for the 5th U.S. Cavalry. He continued to serve as a scout intermittently into the 1890s and was present at Wounded Knee in 1890, narrowly escaping the massacre while attempting to mediate between the Sioux and the Army. He was murdered in Crawford, Nebraska by a bartender following a dispute over his liquor bill. A Nebraska State Historical Society marker in Crawford memorializes his death with the text: “The Chief of Fort Robinson Scouts, Baptiste “Little Bat” Garnier, was shot by James Haguewood, bartender, in this building known as Dietrich’s Saloon, December 16, 1900. “Little Bat” died near the center of the street intersection about 3 a.m. and was buried at the Fort Robinson cemetery. The record of death and interment states: “Deceased was brutally shot while wholly unarmed and without cause or justification.” On a plea of “self-defense,” Haguewood was acquitted. Garnier served his country well in bringing peace to the frontier.”
Gravesite Details
His first name is misspelled on the headstone as "Baptistie." This was a result of a clerical error by cemetery staff. The original record of interment when he was moved from Fort Robinson in 1947 clearly shows the correct spelling.
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